The Lockhart Sanitarium is one of the most forgotten sanitariums and hospitals in the State of Texas. This news article will explain and explore this lost chapter in the history of health.
Lockhart Sanitarium was established in 1915 as Lockhart Sanitarium, Inc. and “The Lockhart Sanitarium” as a domestic for-profit corporation in the city of Lockhart, Texas. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0002841600)
Lockhart Sanitarium was established as a general hospital and sanitarium with 20 beds. Dr. Edgar Smith was the medical director and Miss Jessie Taylor was the superintendent. Dr. Edgar Smith would be the medical director for more than 5 years. At this time Lockhart Sanitarium was both a sanitarium and hospital. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=c-s5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1448&lpg=PA1448)
Dr. William McCall Morgan was a member of the group of physicians in Lockhart who founded, organized, and established the Lockhart Sanitarium. He was one of the founding members. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7620757/william-morgan/)
Lockhart Sanitarium was located on what was then Blanc Mont Place and is now North Medina Street & Bois D'Arc Street. Heating was provided by stoves which located in several parts of the hospital building. Lockhart Sanitarium was built using cinder blocks, steel, and concrete. (Ref: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4034lm.g4034lm_g086231922/?sp=4&r=-0.111,0.633,0.758,0.441,0)
Not many people know this historical fact of information but Lockhart Sanitarium was the first hospital in Lockhart. Nurses were paid $3 dollars a day at the Lockhart Sanitarium during that time as that was the standard pay rate. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22255598/lockhart-post-register/)
A hospital ward called the Charity Ward was established for indigent patients who could not afford healthcare, did not have any form(s) of insurance, or were simply impoverished. Lockhart and all the towns around Caldwell County would send charity cases here. Some of these patients were not able to pay their way. So physicians of Lockhart Sanitarium gave their services free for indigent patients (indigent cases). (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997653/)
“Some of these patients are not able to any their way. The physicians of Lockhart give their services free in indigent cases. The physicians who own the Lockhart Sanitarium cannot in addition, pay cash for the attention of the nurses, the medicines and other items of expenditure incident to the treatment of cases. Based on a record of several years the Lockhart Sanitarium Company was as long as it could afford to bear it at an expense of about $1,200 a year cash outlay for patients without funds. The Lockhart Sanitarium has never been a money making institution. During the administration of Judge M. U. Smith, the Sanitarium Company offered to give the Lockhart Sanitarium the ground, the building, and the equipment, to Caldwell County if the county would assume indebtedness against it and guarantee that he kept it open.”
The Charity Ward of Lockhart Sanitarium was constructed in August of 1933 with financial contributions from South Texas Chamber of Commerce. South Texas Chamber of Commerce played a tremendous role in financing the Charity Ward of the Lockhart Sanitarium to pay the expenses of indigent patients sent of necessity or emergency to the institution. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4156151)
In August 1933, the president of South Texas Chamber of Commerce appointed E. B. Coopwood, William M. Schofield, Mrs. Stanley Mohle, to a committee to formulate plans for financing what was then called the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium, but which in reality is creating a fund to pay the expenses of indigent patients sent out of necessity or emergency to the institution. Prior to that time there was no especial ward set aside for charity patients in an institution of that size and kind. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997653/)
In August 1933, the president of South Texas Chamber of Commerce appointed E. B. Coopwood, William M. Schofield, Mrs. Stanley Mohle, to a committee to formulate plans for financing what was then called the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium, but which in reality is creating a fund to pay the expenses of indigent patients sent of necessity or emergency to the institution. Prior to that time there was no especial ward set aside for charity patients in an institution of that size and kind.
“In August 1933, the president appointed E. B. Coopwood, Wm. M. Schofield, Mrs. Stanley Mohle a committee to formulate plans for financing what was then called the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium, but which in reality is creating a fund to pay the expenses of indigent patients sent of necessity or emergency to the institution.”
South Texas Chamber of Commerce and Lockhart Sanitarium voted to sponsor a movement setting aside a day in April and a day in October to raise funds for the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium in 1934. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997538/)
“The Club voted to sponsor a movement setting aside a day in April and a day in October to raise funds for the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium. Mr. Price from the South Texas Chamber of Commerce addressed the Club on the subject of printing literature advertising Lockhart and recommending the highways coming to it, literature to be distributed at entrance cities to Texas with a view of turning southwestern travel through Lockhart.”
Lockhart Sanitarium had a special day called Tag Day each year. Tag Day was a day where numerous charities and organizations donated money to the Charity Ward of Lockhart Sanitarium. Several charity benefits were held for the indigent patients on the Charity Ward throughout the 20th century. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997613/)
Nurses associated with the Lockhart Sanitarium would prepare and deliver cakes to the patients of the Charity Ward. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26996767/)
“The Club was fed today by a group of ladies who are applying the proceeds to the Charity Ward of the Lockhart Sanitarium. E. B. Coopwood announced that Tag Day for the Charity Ward would be held next Saturday, April 28th in Lockhart and all the towns around that would send charity cases here. Whatever is given to Tag Day is voluntary but it is sorely needed and should be in amount as large as possible.”
Miss Monnie Talley was the superintendent of the Lockhart Sanitarium from 1925 to 1942. Miss Monnie Talley was the superintendent that succeeded Dr. Edgar Smith. (Ref: Lockhart Post Register, Miss Talley in War Work at A. & M. College, Page 1, April 02, 1942)
The Charity Ward of Lockhart Sanitarium was constructed in August of 1933 with financial contributions from South Texas Chamber of Commerce. South Texas Chamber of Commerce played a tremendous role in financing what was the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium. In August 1933, the president of South Texas Chamber of Commerce appointed E. B. Coopwood, William M. Schofield, Mrs. Stanley Mohle, to a committee to formulate plans for financing what was then called the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium, but which in reality is creating a fund to pay the expenses of indigent patients sent out of necessity or emergency to the institution. Prior to that time there was no especial ward set aside for charity patients in an institution of that size and kind. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997653/)
“In August 1933, the president appointed E. B. Coopwood, Wm. M. Schofield, Mrs. Stanley Mohle a committee to formulate plans for financing what was then called the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium, but which in reality is creating a fund to pay the expenses of Indigent patients sent of necessity or emergency to the institution.”
South Texas Chamber of Commerce voted to sponsor a charity ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium in 1933. E. B. Coopwood, William M. Schofield, and Mrs. Stanley Mohle were appointed the committee of South Texas Chamber of Commerce. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26996832/)
South Texas Chamber of Commerce and Lockhart Sanitarium voted to sponsor a movement setting aside a day in April and a day in October to raise funds for the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium in 1934. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997538/)
“The Club voted to sponsor a movement setting aside a day in April and a day in October to raise funds for the Charity Ward in the Lockhart Sanitarium. Mr. Price from the South Texas Chamber of Commerce addressed the Club on the subject of printing literature advertising Lockhart and recommending the highways coming to it, literature to be distributed at entrance cities to Texas with a view of turning southwestern travel through Lockhart.”
In 1942, Miss Monnie Talley took a leave of absence from her position as superintendent of the Lockhart Sanitarium. She left for A&M College (now Texas A&M University) to contribute in war efforts during World War II as work was being done there. She had given her time and strength for the comfort of her patients unceasingly and relentlessly. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/lockhart-post-register-apr-02-1942-p-1/)
“Miss Monnie Talley left this week for A. & M. College to take part in the war work being done there. Miss Talley has for the past seventeen years been superintendent of the Lockhart Sanitarium, during which time she has given unceasingly of her time and strength for the comfort of her patients. In accepting her new duties she has not severed her connection with the Lockhart Sanitarium, but is merely on leave of absence.”
Miss E. Althans was the other superintendent of Lockhart Sanitarium along with Miss Monnie Talley was contributing in war efforts at A&M College. Miss E. Althans Lockhart was a registered nurse during this time. Lockhart Sanitarium was still a private hospital. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=zPEhAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA142&lpg=RA2-PA142&dq=%22lockhart+sanitarium%22)
According to the 1945-1946 edition of the Texas Almanac 1945-1946, Lockhart Sanitarium had admitted 4 patients per day on a daily basis. There were 4 bassinets. The number of births was 46. The total amount for admissions during the 1945-1946 fiscal year was 108 patients. (Ref: Texas Almanac 1945-1946, Page 395)
The Association at the Episcopal Church raised $1,200 dollars to pay expense of charity patients in the year 1934. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/26997653/)
Lockhart Sanitarium was voluntarily dissolved in 1947. Lockhart Sanitarium was no longer operating as a sanitarium after 1947. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0006963800)
This is because Lockhart Sanitarium was converted into a general hospital called Lockhart Hospital in late 1947. Lockhart Hospital was the successor of Lockhart Sanitarium. Lockhart Sanitarium was no longer operating as a sanitarium but as a general hospital instead. Dr. Abner A. Ross was one of five doctors who donated the Lockhart Sanitarium to the City as a nucleus for the present Lockhart Hospital. The City of Lockhart assumed full ownership and rights to the property in 1947. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/52173059/)
A bond was passed in 1947 for the hospital to expand. Hospital expansion was completed in 1948. The hospital, which had been owned and operated for well over 25 years by the town's physicians, was given to the town as a nucleus around which a new municipal hospital will be built. The citizens voted for the issuance of bonds in the amount of $200,000 for this purpose. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385778258/)
The new facility was a $650,000 addition to a 1948 investment since it was built around the wing completed in 1924. A new facade and interior refurbishing blended the old with the new. Lockhart citizens passed a half-million dollar bond issue to finance the construction. Additional money came from memorial donations and sale of some hospital land for this purpose. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386550223/)
Nurses were paid $3 dollars a day at the Lockhart Hospital during that time as that was the standard pay rate. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14025162/)
Lockhart Hospital had been operating as a city-owned hospital called City of Lockhart Hospital beginning in 1969. The City of Lockhart owned, operated and managed the City of Lockhart Hospital for many years. (Ref: https://books.google.com/books?id=BK7NHfphB-MC&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62)
Private donations were given to the hospital in 1971 to allow the hospital to expand again. The hospital had expanded to a larger size by then. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14025162/)
Expenditures were cut at the city-owned Lockhart Hospital in 1978 after City Council and the hospital board met in dosed sessions to study how costs at the hospital can be cut. The hospital board was told to "review their budget more carefully with possible cutbacks in capital expenditures". This was because hospital was losing money. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/362384775/)
However financial woes forced Lockhart Hospital to close down and dissolve in 1993. Lockhart Hospital was shut down for the second time in three years. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/356074613/)
Caldwell County Christian Ministries requested to renew their building lease of the space located at 901 Bois D'Arc Street in 2020. Caldwell County Christian Ministries has been operating at that location since 2010 and has a commendable reputation for helping the community with the valuable service. The Caldwell County Christian Church now sits where Lockhart Sanitarium once was located. (Ref: https://www.lockhart-tx.org/page/open/2783/0/04%2021%202020%20council%20minutes.pdf)
Lockhart Sanitarium was located at 901 Bois D'Arc Street, Lockhart, Texas, US 78644.
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